Crafting Wedding Wine Glasses: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wine glasses are a fun, creative, and accessible way to add a personal touch to your wedding. You can decorate them with glitter, paint, vinyl decals, or even make etched wine glasses with the bride and groom's names. The process is simple and only requires a few tools and supplies, such as etching cream, a computer and printer, an X-acto craft knife, and wine glasses. With a bit of creativity, you can make unique and memorable wedding wine glasses that are perfect for your special day.

Etching with a stencil

Firstly, gather your supplies. You will need etching cream (available at most craft stores), a computer and printer, a piece of glass from an old frame, and an X-acto craft knife or wood-burning tool. You will also need a water source to neutralise the etching cream, and some alcohol to wipe down the glasses before etching.

Next, work on a piece of glass to cut your stencil. Print the words for your wine glasses in the font and size of your choice. Place your printed word guide under the glass and tape it down so it stays in place. Cut a rectangle of contact paper to cover your words and attach it to the top of the glass. Now, use your knife or wood-burning tool to cut out the words. Remove the cut-out sections, saving the centre parts of letters like O, D, B and E.

Prepare your glasses by wiping them with alcohol to remove any dirt and oils. Attach the stencil to the glasses, pressing out any air bubbles. Use tweezers to attach the centre sections of letters.

Using a small paintbrush, add the etching cream to the stencil and leave it on for five minutes. Be careful to apply the cream only to the cut-out areas. After five minutes, wash off the cream to neutralise the solution. You will now have permanently etched words.

Finally, decorate your glasses with bows or ribbons to coordinate with the wedding colours.

Using vinyl decals

• Choose your wine glasses: Select the wine glasses you want to decorate. You can use standard wine glasses or stemless ones.
• Clean the wine glasses: Before applying any decals, make sure the wine glasses are clean and dry. Use rubbing alcohol and cotton balls or paper towels to clean the glasses thoroughly.
• Select your design: Choose a design that suits your wedding theme or concept. You can download and print a design or create your own. Ensure that the design is the appropriate size for the wine glasses.
• Prepare the design: If you are using transfer paper, attach your chosen design to it. Use the grid-like guidelines on the paper to line up the decal and ensure it is straight. Remove the backing of the transfer paper. Cut between the spaces at the top of the design, especially if it involves letters, to get rid of excess transfer paper.
• Fill the glass with water: Fill the wine glass halfway with water to create a level baseline. This will help you place the decal straight across the glass.
• Apply the decal: Place the bottom of the design straight across the glass, using the waterline as a guide. Start by pushing down the letters or individual components at the bottom and then slowly move your thumb upward to adhere to the middle and top sections. Go slowly and smoothly to avoid imperfections.
• Use a scraper: Once the design is attached, use a scraper (an old credit card or gift card can work) to scrape the decal onto the glass.
• Remove the transfer paper: Gently peel off the transfer paper. Place it on top of the vinyl for one final scrape to ensure that the decal is secure.

By following these steps, you can create beautiful and personalised wedding wine glasses with vinyl decals.

Painting with acrylics

Selecting the Right Paint

Choose non-toxic acrylic paint that is safe for use on glass. You can find this information on the label. There are also acrylic paints designed specifically for glass painting, which would be ideal for this project. If you already have regular acrylic paint, you can make it suitable for glass by adding an enamel medium.

Preparing the Glass

Start with a clean wine glass—give it a good wash with warm, soapy water and let it dry completely. Then, use rubbing alcohol or white vinegar on a paper towel to remove any oil, dirt, soap film, or fingerprints from the surface of the glass. This will ensure that your paint adheres properly.

Protecting the Rim

Use masking tape or painter's tape to cover the rim of the glass and create a solid 3/4" (2 cm) paint-free area. This is important because some paint can be toxic, and you don't want it coming into contact with your mouth. It will also help the paint last longer since it won't be exposed to your lips or drinks.

Creating Your Design

If you want to sketch your design first, use tissue paper so that you can insert it inside the glass and use it as a guide. You can also buy self-adhering stencils or sketch your design directly onto the glass with a fine-point marker. If you make any mistakes, you can use nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to erase them.

Painting Techniques

When it comes to painting, you can use various techniques to create different effects. Try using the non-brush end of the paintbrush to make dots, or dip the eraser of a pencil in paint for larger dots. You can also use sponges, paintbrushes, or daubers to create interesting designs. Get creative and experiment with different colours and techniques!

Drying and Curing

Let your painted glass dry for at least 24 hours before curing it in the oven. Place the glass in a cold oven, then turn the temperature to 350ºF (180ºC) and set a timer for 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn off the heat but leave the glass inside for the remaining 10 minutes. Then, remove the glass from the oven and let it cool completely.

Embellishments

Feel free to add some extra flair to your wine glasses! Sign your name or add the name of the recipient, attach a bow, or fill the glass with candy or confetti. These personalised touches will make your wedding wine glasses even more special.

Decoupage

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need wine glasses, of course, as well as decoupage glue or Mod Podge, and your chosen decorating materials. For a wedding theme, you might choose fabric, tissue paper, or printed napkins with elegant designs. You can also add trim, beads, rhinestones, or other embellishments to give your glasses a luxurious look.

Step 2: Prepare Your Design

If you're using fabric, cut a section slightly larger than the area you want to cover on the wine glass. Use fabric paint to create your design on the fabric, and let it dry completely. Alternatively, you can use tissue paper or printed napkins. For napkins, carefully separate the top printed layer from the remaining layers.

Step 3: Apply the Decoupage

Now it's time to apply your design to the wine glass. Brush a thin layer of decoupage glue or Mod Podge onto the glass where you want your design to go. If using fabric, carefully wrap it around the glass, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles as you go. For tissue paper or napkins, carefully lay the thin paper onto the glue-covered area, gently patting it into place.

Step 4: Seal and Embellish

Once the glue is dry, you may want to apply a second coat of decoupage medium to seal and protect your design. If desired, add any additional embellishments, such as rhinestones or trim, using a strong craft adhesive.

Step 5: Let it Dry

Allow your glasses to dry completely before using them. You can hand-wash decoupaged wine glasses, but it's best to avoid soaking them or using harsh abrasives, as this may damage your design.

With these steps, you can create beautiful, personalised wine glasses for your wedding. Cheers to that!

Adding glitter

Once you have your supplies, start by brushing on a layer of Mod Podge or your chosen adhesive to the areas of the wine glass you want to glitter. You can also use epoxy for this step if you prefer. Next, sprinkle the glitter over the adhesive. You can use fine glitter for a subtle sparkle or chunky glitter for a bolder look. Let the glue dry completely, and then add a second coat of adhesive and glitter if you want a more intense sparkly effect.

After the glue has dried, seal the glitter with a sealant to prevent shedding. You can use a spray sealant or brush on a clear-drying glue. This will ensure that your glitter wine glasses are mess-free.

And that's it! You now have beautiful, sparkling wine glasses perfect for a wedding, New Year's Eve party, Mother's Day gift, or any other special occasion. Feel free to experiment with different colours and types of glitter to create unique designs that match your wedding theme or decor.

Frequently asked questions